Description
Object description
British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB and Ethiopia, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1919-1939: family and childhood in Southport; development of pacifist and Christian beliefs; influences including Mahatma Gandhi; signing Peace Pledge with Peace Pledge Union. Aspects of period as conscientious objector in GB, 1939-1940: provisions for conscientious objectors on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; period with the Bruderhof Community, 7/1939-8/1939; reaction of parents to pacifism; tribunal and conditional exemption; opinion on how Second World War could have been prevented; problem of finding suitable area of service as conscientious objector; agricultural work. Aspects of period as conscientious objector with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1942: story of joining Friends Ambulance Unit; training at Friends Ambulance Training Camp, Manor Farm, Northfield, Birmingham; pay; work in Gloucester City General Hospital in Gloucester.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of usefulness of hospital work for later medical duties; training and preparations for mission to Ethiopia. Recollections of period as nurse with Friends Ambulance Unit in Ethiopia, 1942-1945: journy from GB to Ethiopia via Sierra Leone, South Africa and Aden Protectorate, 1942; initial impressions of Addis Ababa; description of Menelik II Hospital, Addas Ababa; opinion of training by Palestinian medical officers; daily life and work in Jimma; problem with language; refusal to put up war like poster; role in opening hospital at Soddo; description of Italian drug store.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of journey to Soddo and preparations for opening of hospital; opinion of role as British representative; condition of Soddo Prison; reception from local governor and attending feast; description of hospital and patients; role in improving state of public health; assistance from Paul Wakelin and Dr Michael Vaizey; lifestyle; problem of malnutrition among Ethiopians; attitude of Ethiopian Government to welfare of people; attitude to Friends Ambulance Unit facilities not being replaced following departure.
REEL 4 Continues: problem of finance; provision of free treatment for all patients; problem with communication; purchase of medical books in GB for work in Ethiopia; story of performing caesarian operation using textbook; role in setting up clinics in local area; further details of Ethiopian Government not continuing the work of the Friends Ambulance Unit; opinion of success of unit in Ethiopia; story of Friends Ambulance Unit member performing operation on patient's brain; attitude to being unable to treat most serious cases; state of personal health; incident of bus being robbed by bandits. Reflections period as peace activist in GB, 1945-1987: opinion of Friends Ambulance Unit rehabilitation scheme; reasons for being unable to study medicine.
REEL 5 Continues: continuing pacifist beliefs; opinion of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; career as author of books on the peace movement; role in initiation of peace groups including Conflict Research Society; activities with Department of Peace Studies at University of Bradford; explanation of concept of 'natural law' and policy for regional forms of organisation; attitude to election of Labour Government; role in attempts to influence British Government's policy on South Africa.